Automatic liquid shut-off device



Patented Jan. 25, 1938 I I TES PATENT FF CE 2,106,197 AUTOMATIC LIQUID SHUT-OFF DEVICE Charles W. Wildebour, Olympia, Wash.

Application March 30, 1936, Serial No. 71,651

6 Claims. (Cl. 226-121) This invention relates to automatic liquid shut on broken lines 3-3, 44 and 5-5 of Fig. 2, reoff devices and the primary object of this invenspectively, Fig. 5, being fragmentary.

tion is to provide liquid control means by which Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4; exa flow of liquid will be automatically shut off cept that the flap valve is shown in a closed posi- 5 when the level of liquid in a receptacle which tion in Fig. 6. 5

is being filled has reached the discharge end of Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modia conduit through which liquid is being delivered fied form of the invention.

to'said receptacle. Like reference numerals designate like parts Another object of this invention is to provide throughout the several views. 10 liquid shut off devices which utilize minus pres- Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numerals l0 and '10 sure or partial vacuum produced within a cham- H designate two housing parts having end porber by a .stream of liquid flowing therethrough tions provided with interfitting threads H2. The for the purpose of drawing in liquid and bringing housing part Ill is adapted to be slipped over and about the closing of a shut oil valve when the secured to thedischarge end of a liquid conduit level of a liquid rises high enough to submerge member. In the drawing I have shown the hous- 15 the lower or discharge end of a nozzle containing ing part It! slipped over the discharge fitting l3 the liquid shut oil devices. on the end of a gasoline service station filler hose Another object of the invention is to provide l i. Set screws iii are provided for securing the automatic liquid shut oiT devices of this nature housing part II) to the fitting l3. Obviously the adapted to be used in connection with a conduit use of this device is not limited to a gasoline sta- 2o having a manually operated valve, said automatic tion service hose but the same may be used in shut off devices having shut off means adapted connection with substantially any conduit through to open automatically as soon as the manually which liquid is discharged. operated valve is closed. The lower housing member II, is preferably, In many instances where liquid is discharged provided with three annular shoulders i6, ll and 25 from a conduit into a receptacle it is impossible l8 respectively. A ring it! rests on the upper to observe the level of the liquid as it rises in the shoulder l6 and a gasket 20, supported on the J receptacle. This often results in getting too much ring l9, provides a sealing means against which liquid in the receptacle or in running the receptathe ends of the fitting l3 and housing part i0 cle over and spilling the liquid. One well known may engage to provide a liquid tight connection instance of this difiiculty is to be found in the at this location when the two housing parts l0 filling of gasoline tanks at gasoline service staand i l are screwed together. A partition memtions. This invention overcomes the difficulty ber 2i rests on the annular shoulder H and is above set forth and, as illustrative of one inpreferably held in place by a sleeve 22 which is stance where said invention may be used to adprovided between it and the ring IS. A liquid 35 vantage, I have shown and described the invenpassageway 23 is provided in the partition H to tion as applied to the discharge end of a gasoline one side of the center of said partition. An end dispensing hose of the usual type. It will be unplate 28 rests on the lower shoulder l8. The end derstood, however, that said invention is susceptiplate 26 is provided with a discharge opening 25 ble of use on substantially any liquid dispensing which is positioned in alignment with the liquid 40 conduit where it is desired to shut ofi the flow passageway 23 in the partition member'ZI. The of liquid from the conduit when the liquid in a opening 25 is larger than the liquid passageway receptacle rises to the level of the discharge end 23 so that a stream of liquid flowing through, of the conduit. liquid passageway 23 will discharge freely through Other and. more specific objects of this invenopening 25 without ,entirely filling the opening 45 tion will be apparent from the following descrip- 25 and without being retarded to any substantial tion taken in connection with the accompanying extent by the end plate 24. The opening 25 as drawing. shown in Fig. 4, of the drawing is substantially In the drawing, Fig. 1. is a side elevation of semi-circular in shape but this shape may be my device showing the same used in connection varied as long as said opening 25 is made larger 50 with the filler hose of a gasoline service station. than the liquid passageway 23.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on a A liquid shut ofi member in the nature of a flap larger scale of the same, a fragment only of the valve 26 is hinged by pivot means 21 to the end discharge fitting of the filler hose being shown. plate 2Q adjacent the edge of the opening 25. Figs. 3,4 and 5 are sectional views substantially A spring 28 is provided in connection with the 55 flap valve 26 to yieldingly urge said flap valve into an open position with respect to the discharge opening 25, as shown in Fig. 2. A stop member 29 is provided on the bottom of the partition 2| adjacent the passageway 23 for limiting the opening movement of the flap valve 26. It will be noted that when the flap valve 26 is in the open position the. top edge of said flap valve will project a slight distance into the path of the stream of liquid which is flowing through the liquid pasageway 23, see Figs. 2 and 3. It does not, however, project far enough into this liquid stream to cause the valve 26 to be closed, in opposition to the force of the spring 28, by liquid flowing at the velocity for which the device is designed to operate. Projecting the top edge of the valve 26 slightly into the liquid stream, as above set forth, has been found to result in a quicker closing of the valve when the lower end of the housing member H is submerged in liquid.

It will be understood that this automatic shut off device may be built into a discharge fitting or nozzle as an integral part thereof instead of being separately made and attached to a discharge fitting or member.

The construction shown in Fig. 2, provides quick and easy assembly and easy access to internal parts. In assembling this device the plate 24, partition 2|, collar 22, ring I9 and gasket 20 are successively inserted in the lower housing part I I.

The upper housing part I0 is preferably slipped onto the discharge fitting i3 and these two parts are secured together, with their lower ends ,substantially flush with each other, by'tightening the set screws I5. The housing parts Ill and H are then screwed together tight enough to seal the end of the housing part III and the end of the fitting l3 firmly against the gasket 20 so as to prevent leakage of the liquid. The end plate 24 fits snugly enough to prevent accidental displacement of said end plate and to prevent any undesirable leakage around said end plate.

The space between the partition 2| and end plate 24 constitutes a valve chamber 30 for the reception of the valve 26. The valve 26 is of substantially semicircular shape and space will be left between the edges of said valve 26 and the wall of the lower-housing member II when the valve 26 is in the open position, see Fig. 5.

In the operation of this device the end of the housingmember II is positioned in a receptacle into which liquid is to be' introduced .at about the level to which said receptacle is to be filled and the manually operated valve 9 is opened. This permits liquid to enter the chamber above the partition 2 I, flow downwardly in a stream through liquid passageway 23 and discharge through the larger liquid discharge opening 25 without entirely filling said discharge opening 25. This discharging stream of liquid seems to carry with it some of the air from the valve chamber 30 and seems to induce a partial vacuum in said chamber 30. As soon as the liquid in the receptaclewhlch is being filled rises around the lower end of the housing member II and submerges the opening 25 the partial vacuum in the valve chamber 30 seems to draw liquid into the chamber 30 and this liquid seems to enter behind the valve 26 and then be drawn outinto the discharging stream.ofliquid with suflicient force to overcome the comparatively light resistance of the spring 28 and carry the valve 26 with it. As soon as a substantial portion of the valve 26 is moved into the descending stream of liquid said valvev will be carried, downwardly by said descending stream of liquid andvery quickly closed over the opening 25. The valve 26 will remain closed as long as a substantial liquid pressure is maintained in the chamber above it. This automatically shuts off the flow of liquid into a receptacle as soon asthe liquid rises to the level of the discharge end of the nozzle or housing part I I. The two housing parts I!) and H and devices contained therein thus constitute an automatic shut off liquid discharge nozzle in which the shut ofi' mechanism is actuated into closed position by a rise of liquid around the lower end of said nozzle.

As soon as the manually operated valve 9 above the fiap valve 26 is closed the major portion of the liquid pressure on the flap valve 26 will be cut off and the spring 28 will raise said flap valve to an open position. Usually the flap valve 26 does not seal perfectly on the end-plate 24 but provides a slight leakage which relieves pressure within the nozzle as soon as the manually operated valve is closed and permits the flap valve to open immediately thus allowing the small amount of liquid which remains in thenozzle to discharge into the receptacle'before the nozzle has been removed from the receptacle. To insure a slight leakage past flap valve 26 when said flap valve is in closed position a small groove 32 may be provided in the edge of said flap valve.

This device is especially advantageous for use on dispensing conduits where liquids are dispensed at comparatively low pressure but the use of the same is not limited to low pressure operation.

In Fig. '7, I have shown a modified form of automatic liquid shut oif device provided with a valve which will be automatically closed when liquid within a container which is being filled rises into the nozzle of the shut olT device. In said Fig. 7, 36 is a nozzle housing. 31 is an inclined deflector member in said housing. 38 is a transverse partition'm'ember extending partially across said' housing. A valve 39-40, of the butterfly type, is mounted on a transverse pivot means 4| which is positioned at the front edge of the partition member 38. A tube 42, of relatively small size, and of substantially L shape is connected with the partition member 36 and extends downwardly therefrom and forms a conduit connected with the space above partition 38 and directed toward the lower end portion 40 of the valve member. A spring 43 yieldlngly urges the valve member into the upright position sition shown in Fig. 7 while the main fiow oi liquid will follow the course of the arrows A and discharge through a passageway 44. The lower end portion 40 of the valve is inclined so as to extend a short distance into the main flow passageway 44. This provides some pressure from the main stream of liquid opposing the small stream from the pipe 42 and tending to close the valve. A non-movable upright guard member 4'! protects the upper portion 39 of the valve member from direct pressure of the liquid in a direction which would tend to close the valve. When liquid rises into the lower end of the nozzle member 36 and submerges the lower end of the tube 42 it willreduce the force of the stream which is directed by the pipe 42 against the lower portion 43 of the valve and the pressure exerted by the main flow of liquid on the inclined lower portion 40 of the valve will overcome the force of the spring 43 and the reduced force of the small stream from the pipe 42 and will start to move the valve portion 39 away from the guard member 41 allowing the mainstream to catch the upper valve portion 39 and move the valve into closed position as respects the passageway 44. The valve will remain closed as long as a substantial pressure is exerted on the valve portion 39. After the valve has been closed and the main flow of liquid shut off a small stream. will continue to flow fromthe pipe 42. As soon as the fiow of liquid to the nozzle 36 is shut off the pressure on. valve portion 39 will drop and the valve member 39-40 will be returned by the spring 43 to the open positionshown in Fig. 7 and will not again be closed until the end of pipe'42 is again submerged.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawing disclose a preferred embodiment of this invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that changes may be made within the scope and spirit, of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an automatic liquid shut.oiI device, a liquid discharge nozzle; adapted to be positioned in a receptacle into which liquid is being introduced; means defining a path of flow of a stream of liquid through. said nozzle a normally open liquid shut off valve in said nozzle; pivot means mounting the lower edge of said valve in spaced relation from the path of flow of the stream of liquid; and means supporting said valve in an inclined position when the valve is open with the upper edge portion of the valve inclined toward the path of the stream of liquid and substantially tangent to the path of flow of the stream of liquid leaving a space behind said valve whereby said valve is movable into a closed position by entrance of liquid into said nozzle and behind said valve upon submergence of the end of said nozzle.

2. In an automatic liquid shut off device, a liquid discharge nozzle provided with liquid passageway means defining a path of flow of liquid therethrough, and'having a chamber positioned at one side of the path of flow of the liquid; a

liquid shut off device positioned to extend substantially across the open side of the chamber, said liquid shut off device providing a restricted communication between the chamber and the interior of the nozzle when it is in open position,

said shut oil? device being movable into obstructing position as respects said liquid passageway when closed; and means yieldingly holding said liquid shut off device in open position, said liquid shut ofi device being adapted to be moved by the liquid flowing therethrough into a closed position in response to the entrance of liquid behind said liquid shut off device when the end of the nozzle is submerged in'liquid.

, 3. In an automatic liquid shut ofi device, a liquid discharge nozzle, provided with liquid passageway means defining a path of flow of liquid therethrough; and having a chamber positioned at one sideof the path of flow of theliquid; .a flap valve pivotally mounted in said chamber yieldingly supported in an open position adjacent one side of the path of flow of the liquid, the

edges of said 'flap valve having clearance as re-- spects the walls of said chamber whereby suction will be exerted in said chamber by the flowing liquid when the end of said nozzle is not submerged and liquid will enter behind said flap .valve when the end of said nozzle is submerged;

and means yieldingly holding said flap .valve in open position, said flap valve being adapted to be moved into closed position by the liquid flowing through the nozzle when liquid submerges the discharge end of the nozzle and enters behind said flap valve.

' opening in the wall nearest the dischargeend of the nozzle being larger than the opening in the other wall; a flap valve pivotally mounted in said chamber yieldinglysupported in an open position adjacent one side of the path of flow of the liquid, the edges of said flap valve having clearance as respects the walls of said chamber when the valve is open whereby liquid may enter behind said flap valve; and means yieldingly holding said flap valve in open position, said flap valve being adapted to be moved into closed position by the liquid flowing through the nozzle when liquid submerges the discharge end ofthe nozzle and enters behind said flap valve.

5. In an automatic liquid shut off device, a cylindrical liquid discharge nozzle; a transverse partition in said discharge nozzle at a distance from the lower end thereof, said partition having a liquid passageway therethrough of substantially smaller diameterthan the nozzle positioned to one side of the axis of the nozzle; an end wall in the discharge end portion of said nozzle spaced from said partition and having a liquid discharge opening of larger size than the liquid passagevway in said partition positioned in alignment with said liquid passageway; a pivotally mounted normally open flap valve positioned between said partition and said end wall and adapted to be moved to close said discharge opening; and a spring yieldingly holding saiddflap valve open.

6. In an automatic liquid shut oiI device, a tubular liquid discharge nozzle; a transverse partition in' said discharge nozzle, said partition having. a liquid passageway therethrough positioned adjacent one side of .the nozzle; an end wall in the discharge end portion of said nozzle spaced from said partition and having a liquid discharge opening of larger size than the liquid passageway in said partition in alignment with said liquid passageway in said partition, said partition and said end wall providing a chamber therebetween wherein a partial vacuum is formed by the liquid issuing from the liquid passageway in said partition; a flap valve in said chamber pivotally mounted adjacent said end wall and movable between an open and a closed position as respects said discharge opening in said end. wall means yieldingly urging said flap valve into 

